Parent contacts used to be in my panic zone and then I had a principle that did a challenge for all teachers one semester. We had to log parent contacts-good or bad, all methods, and there were rewards for the most contacts. I'm not super competitive person but for some reason, I got really into this challenge. That really helped me get over the panic and now it's one of my favorite things to do. You are totally right about starting with positive contacts. I'll share what I posted on Zach Markhardt's assignment- I make positive parent contacts every Friday. This forces me to end my week on a positive note. I use my prep, lunch time, or even use passing time (or class time!) to send a quick text. Sometimes I have students I want to focus on and sometimes I ask my class. I usually pick my most frustrating period and just ask, "Who needs a positive call home today?" A lot of times, kids who I may not have picked want that call. Sometimes they are trying to get on mom or dad's good side for the weekend! This forces me to come up with something positive and pushes me out of the comfort zone. Phone calls from schol often put parents in their panic zone but the more we do it, the better it gets. Here's how my Friday calls go- "Hi, this is Jaysa Fillmore from Cassia High School. Your son/daughter is in my ______ class. I was just calling to tell you today that I really appreciate having your child in class. This week/today, your child… did really well on the quiz, took an extra interest in what we are learning about, turned in all her assignments on time, etc. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that you have a great kid and I like having them in class!"